Scenario 4

Recommendation: This person has the time and ability to write a good CV. You may think therefore that my recommendation would be for them to write their own CV, especially considering that they have a low budget. However, they also state that they have their heart set on this job, and this is arguably the most important thing. If this person really wants the job, I would recommend that they hire a professional to write their CV for them, even though they could probably do a decent job themselves ‘decent’ is not the same as top quality, and you only get one shot at good jobs. Besides, they would then have a first class CV for subsequent future applications too.

If they really want this job, they really they should use whatever means possible to help them land it, even if this involves spending more than they would like. It is arguably a false economy to miss out on your dream job, and a subsequent pay rise, just because there is a cost involved when hiring a professional consultant. You can get extremely good professional help for less than the price of a weekend away, but the potential benefits are far greater and longer term.

Some things are just worth paying the extra for, and some CV consultants are far better than others. But if you pay a top professional to write a better CV for you, and this then lands you the job of their dreams, then it will be money well spent. Indeed, a truly top quality CV can (and often does) pay for itself in your very first pay packet.

Paul Hichens, top UK CV specialist, head of leading firm CV Succeed, and author of the most pioneering CV book in decades, The One Page CV (published by top career sector publishers Pearson Education).